Happy Friday, all! In response to Fashionable Academics CFP: What Does a Feminist Look Like, I had a great post all written out, but sadly my computer ate it. I was mainly trying to say that I realize that I might not look like what some might think a feminist might or should look like, but really, since my ideas about feminism are that women can do anything, and certainly that they deserve the same opportunities that men do, it seems to reason that feminists don't necessarily look one way or another. I can be pretty girly, and definitely embrace it at times, and I'm a feminist.
My feminism is deeply rooted in my own upbringing. My mom directly and indirectly taught me lessons in independence, and always made sure I stood up for myself. And my dad, although coming from a patriarchal upbringing and somewhat sexist while I was growing up (having a stubborn and outspoken daughter helped break him of that), encouraged me in things like math, science, sports and home/car repair and maintenance. Whether they knew it or not, my parents raised me to be a feminist. And thanks to their influence, I continue to fight for equality with my male peers and counterparts, challenge societal norms and gender roles, and believe that I can accomplish anything.
Cardigan: Gap Outlet
Tee: Loft
Jeans: Gap
Scarf: Target
Shoes: Clarks Indigo, gifted
Watch: Fossil, gifted
Earrings: Handmade by a family friend
Fantastic post, Anne! Sorry your computer ate the original.
ReplyDeleteIt might be for the best - my original was close to a page single-spaced in Word! Having to re-write it in a very short amount of time may have been a good thing :)
ReplyDeleteBravo for these great thinky thoughts! And good for you parents, raising an awesome feminist.
ReplyDeleteSorry you lost the original. Your thoughts were still fun to read, and well written.
ReplyDeleteI find the question of what a feminist "looks like" pretty arcane. Is it possible that there are grown-up women out there who, at this late date, are NOT feminists? And if so, are they reading our blogs? It's a bit like preaching to the choir, in my humble opinion.
ReplyDeleteI love the combination of fuchsia and purple on you, Anne. Cute!
Charlotte: There are definitely grown women out there who aren't feminists. I don't understand it, but they exist. Here's an example of a woman explaining why she's not a feminist (http://www.wnd.com/index.php?pageId=262481). She quotes a book by the anti-Feminist, Phyllis Schafly, and her niece, to note that "'[Feminism] is about helping inherently insecure women feel better about themselves,' note the authors. "'But their proposed solution to this problem – to rearrange society to accommodate women's insecurities – is absurd.' Feminists turn their personal problems outward and blame society."
ReplyDeleteI would think feminists are the opposite of insecure, and the authors make it sound like inequality is just something we women dreamt up. Like there's not concrete evidence of it. The fact that there are women who think this way makes me mad, but to your point, I'm positive they're not reading our blogs.
Interesting point about your parents raising a feminist without meaning to - especially in the case of your father. Very well written post, especially just off the top of your head.
ReplyDeleteRaising feminist children is something I think about quite a lot, so I enjoyed your thoughts on this.
ReplyDeleteI love the scarf with this outfit. Such vivid colors!
I hate it when my computer eats things! I enjoyed reading your post, and I think my parents did a pretty good job of challenging traditional gender roles as well. Hell, my mom was the breadwinner and my dad did most of the childcare ;)
ReplyDeleteI haven't written my post on this, but I've been writing it in my head for a while now...and I'm afraid it will be very long. I sometimes think that I got caught up in the winds of second-wave feminism and don't entirely understand the following wave.
ReplyDeletegreat words and pretty colours!
ReplyDeleteI haven't written my post on this, but I've been writing it in my head for a while now...and I'm afraid it will be very long. I sometimes think that I got caught up in the winds of second-wave feminism and don't entirely understand the following wave.
ReplyDeleteRaising feminist children is something I think about quite a lot, so I enjoyed your thoughts on this.
ReplyDeleteI love the scarf with this outfit. Such vivid colors!
Bravo for these great thinky thoughts! And good for you parents, raising an awesome feminist.
ReplyDeleteSorry you lost the original. Your thoughts were still fun to read, and well written.
ReplyDelete